The Indian men’s cricket team is gearing up for a highly anticipated five-match Test series against England, with the first Test set to kick off on January 25 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, who has led the team to victory in all four matches played in 2024 so far, the hosts aim to start the series on a winning note against Ben Stokes’ England.
India, coming off a seven-wicket defeat in their last Test against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham in July 2022, is poised to make several changes to the playing XI for the series opener. The squad that featured in the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town earlier this month is set to undergo alterations, with a strategic focus on spinning options.
A key consideration for the first Test is the likelihood of India opting for three spinners. The established duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are certain to start, leaving the decision between Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav for the third spinner spot. Kuldeep, who hasn’t played a Test for India since his five-wicket haul against Bangladesh in December 2022, is in contention for a comeback.
The pace attack will be spearheaded by the returning Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who were rested for the Afghanistan T20Is. Their presence is expected to bolster the Indian pace battery, providing an added dimension to the team’s bowling arsenal.
In a notable development, KL Rahul is anticipated to relinquish his wicketkeeping duties for the Test series, opening up the opportunity for either KS Bharat or Dhruv Jurel to step in as the wicketkeeper-batter. Considering Bharat’s experience and seniority, he is likely to be the preferred choice for the first Test. Both Jurel and Bharat showcased their form with impressive half-centuries for India A in the practice match against England Lions last week.
The selection of a specialist wicketkeeper at No. 7 means that either KL Rahul or Shreyas Iyer will have to make way for them in the playing XI. Given Rahul’s performance in the Boxing Day Test against South Africa, it appears that Iyer might find himself on the bench for the series opener. Captain Rohit Sharma is expected to open the innings alongside the promising Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is set to make his Test debut in India.It is anticipated that Shubman Gill will occupy the No. 3 batting position.while Virat Kohli will assume his customary position at No. 4.
The probable playing XI for India in the first Test against England includes Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, KS Bharat (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj.
The team management’s decision to go with this combination aims to strike a balance between experience and form, with an emphasis on a potent spin attack complemented by a formidable pace duo. The upcoming series promises to be a challenging yet exciting encounter, as both teams vie for supremacy in what is expected to be a closely contested battle on the cricketing field. As the action unfolds at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, cricket enthusiasts worldwide eagerly await the start of this highly anticipated Test series between India and England.